Decorative illuminated device and method



April 26, 1949- A. ABRAMsoN DECORATIVE ILLUMINATED ADEVICE AND METHOD Filed June 9, 1945 PMSON Y INVENTOR. IBPAHAM 7 Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 2,468,283 DECORAIIE.ILLUMINATED DEVICE AND y v METHOD Abraham Abramson, New York, N. Y., assigner to -Rf'aylite Electric Corp., Long Island City, N. Y.,

acorporation-fof New or Application June 9, 1945, Serial No. 598,570 121Claims. Cl. '240-.10)

inthe following claims.

In 4the accompanying drawing in which possible illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, away to expose the interior, showing a funit of method.

Fig. 2 is Ian enlarged detailed fragmentary View of the vapor 'current generating means as shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 2a is :a perspective View of the concentrator member removed from the device.

iiseitl `for inurposes similar the 'applicants is utilized, have feature .the generation ofi]- lli-cent material designated generally as l l having an integralclosed `loottom end Ha and sealed top end Hb, sai-d tube lbody H for the purposes of forming a Christmas tree lighting ornament such as ether or wood alcohol but preferably like relatively normal low boiling Ilooint but which is non-inainmable. The liquid l2 may be tube body H through the top end Hb thereof before fusing the latter `for liermetically sealing evacuated before said tube is sealed to permit lowering the boilor projection being shown,

of various shapes and sizes, each serving `as a focal point and irregularly spaced apart if desired so that entwined fluttering ri bons I4 producing a wide range :of contrastingly attractive lighting effects are made available.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the invention is shown with the improved ornamental illuminated device I having the lower bottom end IIa of the tube body II supported in close proximity to the bulb Ia of lamp I5 The latter as here shown is mounted in one of the electric sockets I6 of a Christmas tree lighting outiit of any.

well understood construction (not shown) by means of a sleeve holder or connector I1 made of fiber, glass, plastic or any other non-combustible material. The lower end I1a of the sleeve holder I1 fits snugly over the lamp bulb Ilia and the upper end I1b fits snugly over the lower bottom tube body end IIa so that said holder I1 provides a relatively firm interconnecting support or rigid coupling. The holder I1 also serves as a conduit to guide the surrounding air heat conducting medium from the lamp bulb I5a to said bottom tube end IIa provided with-the internal mounted member I8 is thus disposed directly over the source of heat and light, which in this instance, is the glowing lamp filament I5b.

In practising the invention, assuming et I6 is positioned on a Christmas shown) or arranged for other purposes and connected in power supply (not shown) for lighting the lamp I5. Heat and light radiated from the lamp filament I'Bb is eiiective to cause the generation of vapor currents with said concentrator member I8 serving as a focal point or points when the heat from said lamp lament I5b is maintained to a sufficient degree to generate vapor at a rate to make the flow thereof continuous in an unbroken stream or streams through the liquid column. The portion I1c of the sleeve holder I1 between the lamp bulb I5a, and the tube body end IIa serves as a conduit to conne the heat conducting medium therein for producing the aforesaid degree of heat with a minimum heat producing source.

Light beams from lamp filament Ib are projected longitudinally the length of each of said flowing current I4 which forms a waving illuminated band as seen from the exterior of the tube body II and shown in Fig. 1. As concentrator member I8 causes one or more separate flowing currents I4, at each of said cut out or projecting portions I8a those currents I4 appear together to either interlace, entwine or emerge into fluttering ribbons thereby forming contrasting attractive activated lighting effects in the liquid column.

The lighting of bulb I5 also illuminates the side wall of the transparent tube body II to the top end IIb thereof and imparts the appearance suggestive of a lighted candle.

It has been found that the construction, shape, size, depth, and spacing of either the cut out or projection portions I8a are effective to control the cross sectional shape, contour and general fluttering path of the flowing stream or streams of the continuous unbroken currents whereby a relatively large range of said illuminating activated streamer effects are made available. When neither cut outs or projection portion I8a are provided, the concentrator member I8 will function but deiinite focal points will not be established. v l

the socktree (not decorative display an electric circuit The improved method embodying the invention in the form above described will now be apparent. The column of volatile liquid I2 within the tube body II which preferably is under less than atmospheric pressure because of the evacuated space I3 above the level of the liquid I2, has an external illuminating radiant heat applied, as by means of a suitable heat source, such as the glowing filament I5b of lamp I5, which acts to focus the eiect thereof on the portion of the liquid at the tube bottom end IIb at the cut out or projecting portions I8a of concentrator member I8. Heat from said lamp filament I'Sb is supplied to an effective degree sufficient to generate a vapor streaming current from each of said cutouts or projections IBa, flowing in a continuously and unbroken stream up through the liquid body I2. These currents I4 are illuminated y the light from said lamp filament I5b passthe liquidbody I'2 so that each of said currents I4 is seen to sparkle in a waving or fluttering ribbon stream suggesting in activity rapid dancing movements. Within a wide range of heat supplied such movements can be made to appear more or less active as desired. Each of the various cut outs or projections Ia generates an individual current I4, as above described which may be located so as entwine or merge the several currents I4 thereby forming intricately contrasting and attractive lighting effects.

The vapor forming currents I4 on reaching the space I3 after passing through the liquid column I2 condense and disappear. The condensed vapors return to the liquid in body II for replenishing the same to continue the cycle of operations above described as long as said illuminating radiant heat from lamp filament I5b is applied.

While in the above described improved method o operation a continuous unbroken stream current of flowing vapor is produced in the liquid body the novel construction may also be utilized for producing a flow oi bubbles in a stream by applying insufficient heat to form said continuous stream current from the various focal points.

In Fig 3 a modified form of the invention is shown in which 28 is the concentrator member which may be formed of a thin iilm or deposit on the interior closed bottom end 2Ia of transparent tube body 2I. Said member 28 may be made of materials like member I8 described above but may be electroplated or permanently deposited or molded to adhere in the position shown. Member 28 like said member I8 may be formed with a roughened surface against which liquid I2 contacts and provide focal points 28a for generating one or more continuous currents 24, that is, an unbroken stream or streams like currents I4 described above for device III. In Fig. l anotherA modification of the invention is shown. Here a concentrating member 38 which merely rests on the bottom end 3Ia of the transparent tube body 3|. The member 38 may be made of any suitable material, as for example, a rough textured metallic or nonmetallic globular portion with spaced metallic projections as shown in Fig. 4. The member 38 provides focal points 38a at the free ends of said projections in the manner similar to members I8a and 28a described above for generating one or more continuous currents 34 in unbroken stream-or streams like currents I4 and 24 described above. Member 38 may be made out- 6 side the tube body 3| and simply drop into tube nating means maintaining a gradient between body 3| for assembly. the point and said unlied tube body porfocal It is to'be understood that the modied contion whereby the generated vapor current light as have been describedfor device I0. The im- Dertien interior Surface.

proved method of operation described for device 2 A device of the character described comabove 1s also equally applicable to said modip rising a sealed transparent tube body, a vo1aed forms in practising the invention. 10 tile l'iqlud partlally lling said body, the unlled tions of practical use, onv the interior surface of said illed tube body it is understood that all the above matters here ine means maintainingr a gradient between the set forth or shown 1n the accompanying drawfOeal Demi; and Sald Unlled tu e Ody DOrtiOn ing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not whereby the generated Vapor Current light efin a, limiting sense. feet is continuously initiated at said focal point,

Thus having described my invention, I claim Said fecal point means being formed 0f a thin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: shell mounted against said body portion interior prising a sealed transparent tube body, a volat0 the latter.

tile liquid partially lling said body, the unfilled ABRAHAM ABRAMSON. portion of said tube body being under reduced atmospheric pressure, heating and illuminated REFERENCES CITED means applied to Sad ued ube body portion The following references are of record in the and a relatively ixed operative means carried fue of this patent:

portion to provide a focal point serving as a UNITED STATES PATENTS source to generate unbroken current of vapor Number Name Date for passing through the liquid to produce an 21353063 Otis July 4 1944 activated light effect, said heating and lllumi- 3831941 ons `sept,411945 

